Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2016/1029
of 19 April 2016
amending, for the purposes of adapting to technical progress, Annex IV to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards an exemption for cadmium anodes in Hersch cells for certain oxygen sensors used in industrial monitoring and control instruments
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment1, and in particular Article 5(1)(a) thereof,
Whereas:
Directive 2011/65/EU prohibits the use of cadmium in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market. Cadmium is present in the anodes of Hersch Cells, which are used in specialised, high-sensitivity oxygen sensors. In comparison to the Hersch cell sensors, all available alternative technologies do not provide the same sensitivity, reliability and accuracy when measuring oxygen concentration at very low levels.
The reliability of alternatives to Hersch Cells using cadmium for oxygen sensors in industrial monitoring and control instruments is not ensured where sensitivity below 10 parts per million is required. The use of cadmium anodes in Hersch cells for oxygen sensors used in industrial monitoring and control instruments, where sensitivity below 10 parts per million is required, should therefore be exempted from the prohibition.
As currently no cadmium-free alternatives are sufficiently reliable for the specific use and considering that for monitoring and control instruments 7 years is a relatively short transition period which is unlikely to have adverse impacts on innovation, pursuant to Article 5(2) of Directive 2011/65/EU, a corresponding validity period of exemption should be granted.
Directive 2011/65/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: